Family Vacation Ridgecrest, Trail of 100 Giants, and Mt. Whitney 2012 (Part 3)

This family vacation is on a three part post! What a fun tradition we enjoy each summer.
After the day at the Ocean and beach we began driving again. Once again it was on side roads and unfamiliar territory. Even our Garmin struggled with some of the street names we needed. We drove through a lot of country corn fields and more than once I questioned if we would make it to our destination which was the Trail of the 100 Giants. Several stops and questions later, we finally arrived at our goal.

 Here is the beginning of the trail. Love to see so many smiling and happy campers

 These pictures don't even begin to show how large these trees are. They are mind blowing huge.

 A tree that had fallen, this is it on it's side

 Teenagers and their music. Sierra sharing with Ada

After we saw all the trees we wanted, we drove another 3 hours to Ridgecrest. Now one might ask why are you going to Ridgecrest for your family vacation. Is this the most exciting place in California? NO. Does it provide lots of cool things to see and explore? NO. Is it exotic? NO. but girls, it is where your momma met your daddy. Where our love was first ignited! Ridgecrest doesn't offer much, but it holds dear memories for both Corby and I and lots of good people we both shall never forget. We  served our missions in California and were serving in this area when we met. We were obedient and realized we had some attraction but we didn't act on our feelings until after we were no longer missionaries and the rest is just history. I have a dear friend, Judith (Jude) who married and moved to Ridgecrest to raise her family. I knew she lived there, so we made arrangement to hang out on Friday. She was my roommate at BYU. I consider her a dear friend and was so excited to get reacquainted and have our children meet. She has three boys. Since I am new to this "take a picture about everything we do thing" I did not get a photo of Jude and her sweet family. We spent that day at her paid off house, amazing huh, we made a fun lunch and just talked and talked. My how I miss my college days, such wonderful memories. I would never go back, but I sure loved my time during it. After our husbands had listened to us reminisce as much as they could stand, we left for the Whitney Portals. While Corby was serving in one of his areas he and his companion hiked Mt. Whitney. Do you know all the facts of this place? It is the highest point in the lower 48 states. It was an amazing feat. It takes a permit to hike it and you need to allow at least 14 hours for up and back. There is snow on the top, so cool. I can't wait. It is a goal to return in the next 5 years. Who wants to join us? We want to hike this amazing mountain one day but for this trip, we will settle for the portal.

Bria has a true fear of heights and she was so brave to climb up here with her momma and daddy

Do you see the amazing waterfall behind us?

 

 We spent the afternoon in all this beauty then headed for our hotel which surprise surprise was further than we anticipated so we got in late as normal. Because of all our activities we basically drop in bed just to wake to begin a new day. Vacations are great but so so exhausting. We ate in a small hometown cafe which was delicious.

Chicken Fried Steak

Steak and baked potatoes

love how Ada acts like a teenager with her older sistas.

Spaghetti

 Throughout dinner both Bria and Ada would ask what kind of fish were hanging on the wall. The fish were huge and had been caught locally. The portions were huge we only bought three and shared with all 7 of us. Gotta love the hometown food.
We went to bed and woke up for the 7 hour journey home. All in all it was a great week and I am so glad we survived the trip.
Good to be home but always so fun to get away!

I had to take this photo because we saw this a lot. Corby taking Ada potty. Many times potty happened on the side of the road hidden behind the open door. Shhhh......being sneaky!

Family Vacation Yosemite National Park and the Ocean 2012 (Part 2)

We left Anna's house on Tuesday morning, a bit later than anticipated but thinking we only had a 3 or 4 hour drive ahead of us, we felt like we would still have plenty of time to site see the national forest. The drive was going great until we hit a two lane road with construction which meant the two lane went down to a one lane and you would sit and wait while the opposite direction of traffic took turns. We would wait sometimes 20 minutes before it was our turn. At first it wasn't too bad but impatience set in rather quick and bickering and contention became present. Our 3 or 4 hour drive turned into 6 or 7 hours but a las we made it. The weather was gorgeous and the views were spectacular. We ate lunch down by the ocean and enjoyed the water for a bit.
To make our trip more memorable, we bought items we normally don't purchase for our lunch and that seemed to brighten up some spirits. Weird how food has that much power huh? Kind of strange but it does.

Look our family is famous! bonus it is "all natural" I love labels. All natural, plant produced, orange soda sweetened with cane sugar. Oh well, we are on vacation.

 Priceless enthusiasam coming from Bria. Corby enjoying the atmosphere.

 Ada fell asleep with gum in her mouth, looks like we found it. She is sporting her Wilma outfit.

 Our view during lunch, spectacular.

 Don't even think about it Teesh Lareesh

 Enjoying the last few drops of the forbidden food in our family.

 So thrilled to each get their own can.

After we spent the rest of the day site seeing this gorgeous national forest we took off to our hotel. It was only supposed to be an hour or so but you know the theme of our travels right? It was after 10:30 before we arrived. We found a pizza joint for dinner and then continued on our travels. My favorite part of this days travels was "Daddy I am sorry, I just peed my car seat". I died laughing. No warning, no I need to go potty, just go ahead dear sweet child and pee in your car seat.  I then said oh sweetie you are going to be cold, her response, "No, mom it is warm!" Love parenting!
After getting the girls settled in their hotel room and us in ours, we hand washed the car seat and hit the hay.
Wednesday morning we began the trek to the ocean. We traveled a lot of freeway so it was mostly smooth sailing. We stopped in at our hotel suite to change into our swim attire and spent the rest of the day and into the evening at the ocean. It was beautiful weather for us but the locals had jackets on so it might have been a chilly day for most.

Please excuse the shot, it looked amazing in person but  in this shot there is a lot to be desired.

 Corby wearing the hat I wish I could throw away! He wears it just to torment me and the girls.

 Malia has spotted something fantastic

 Sierra asked how much a house on the beach would cost and announced that is where she will be living. Hope you win the lottery that we don't enter sweetie.

 Teesh, my beautiful daughter

 See the birds that began attacking us when some snacks were brought out.

Forgive the indecentness of this picture and the one above as well, but I just have to leave them in. The girls would run toward me at full speed ahead then fall in the sand. I tried and tried to catch them running but every time it was them in this pose. I think it is hilarious me and my photo skills.

 We had so much fun burying ourselves and searching for disgusting cool things at the ocean. I have to say oceans have a smell that isn't all that wonderful but it was so much fun to play in the sand and water.

 We went back to our hotel and got all gussied up and took the girls to a sea food restaurant not far from the ocean. We thought we needed to let the girls experience how the rest of the world eats out. I was pretty fed up with how the other customers would count our children and even our hostess said, "all these are yours"? Yes, people all these 5 are mine. I had them intentionally. Oh and yes, they all have the same father(loved being asked that) some people's kids!

 The girls in front of our hotel getting ready to head to din din

 Hey gorgeous girls

 Ada and myself enjoying calamari, best I've ever eaten, so so yummy.

 Whatever it takes to have a quiet meal, Bria

Our dinner was fun and so so yummy. Love fresh sea food. 

Calamari

We then headed back to the ocean for some last minute pictures and fun in the sand. As we were traveling,  we had to stop for the wild life in the road. Corby is a kid in a candy store when it comes to wildlife. He is so funny!

 That's right  girls hug and be BFF's for eternity

 Beautiful way to end a great fun day.